October 24, 2019
Richard Stevens:
High temperature was only 41 degrees today. Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 15 mph. The day was quite pleasant relative to last night.
My birding day commenced at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas). Most Murres found in Colorado have been during or just after a snowstorm. Last night's storm dropped over 4 inches across metro Denver.
I scoped the Lake from above the Dam; unfortunately, no Murres, Jaegers or uncommon waterfowl were found. A Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the southeast sand spit. An Iceland Gull (Thayer's) flew below my vantage point several times.
A report of Black or Surf Scoters at Cherry Creek Reservoir prompted my next stop. Five Black Scoters swam off the western point at the Lake Loop.
Additional scoping of the Lake did not find any other uncommon birds. There were many Western Grebes, American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, and Ring-billed Gulls. I thought there was a brief glimpse of a Red-necked Grebe; however, I could not confirm the sighting.
My next stop was Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe). The storm did not bring any uncommon waterfowl here. Ruddy Ducks were the majority duck, followed by American Coots, American Wigeons and Pied-billed Grebes.
For an unknown reason the three thousand+ Gulls were not on the swim beach today; instead they were below the pavilion at the lower parking lot.
I studied the gulls for several hours looking for a Mew Gull or Sabine's Gull. Highlights were one Lesser Black-backed Gull and one Iceland Gull (Thayer's). Half a dozen Herring Gulls and dozens of California Gulls were among the horde of Ring-billed Gulls.
There was not enough daylight to reach Barr Lake before sunset; instead, I walked The Pronghorn Open Space. Perhaps a Short-eared Owl would appear at sunset, none did however.
Highlight was a Swamp Sparrow and six American Tree Sparrows fluttering about the cattail marshes. The Swamp Sparrow was about 400 yards from the parking area. Not much else was encountered during the 1.2 mile (one way) hike.
Richard Stevens:
High temperature was only 41 degrees today. Winds were 6-7 mph with gusts to 15 mph. The day was quite pleasant relative to last night.
My birding day commenced at Chatfield Reservoir (Jefferson/Douglas). Most Murres found in Colorado have been during or just after a snowstorm. Last night's storm dropped over 4 inches across metro Denver.
I scoped the Lake from above the Dam; unfortunately, no Murres, Jaegers or uncommon waterfowl were found. A Lesser Black-backed Gull stood on the southeast sand spit. An Iceland Gull (Thayer's) flew below my vantage point several times.
A report of Black or Surf Scoters at Cherry Creek Reservoir prompted my next stop. Five Black Scoters swam off the western point at the Lake Loop.
Additional scoping of the Lake did not find any other uncommon birds. There were many Western Grebes, American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, and Ring-billed Gulls. I thought there was a brief glimpse of a Red-necked Grebe; however, I could not confirm the sighting.
My next stop was Aurora Reservoir (Arapahoe). The storm did not bring any uncommon waterfowl here. Ruddy Ducks were the majority duck, followed by American Coots, American Wigeons and Pied-billed Grebes.
For an unknown reason the three thousand+ Gulls were not on the swim beach today; instead they were below the pavilion at the lower parking lot.
I studied the gulls for several hours looking for a Mew Gull or Sabine's Gull. Highlights were one Lesser Black-backed Gull and one Iceland Gull (Thayer's). Half a dozen Herring Gulls and dozens of California Gulls were among the horde of Ring-billed Gulls.
There was not enough daylight to reach Barr Lake before sunset; instead, I walked The Pronghorn Open Space. Perhaps a Short-eared Owl would appear at sunset, none did however.
Highlight was a Swamp Sparrow and six American Tree Sparrows fluttering about the cattail marshes. The Swamp Sparrow was about 400 yards from the parking area. Not much else was encountered during the 1.2 mile (one way) hike.
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